CURSED KINGDOM- A Darker Steamier Version of Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 8

Over the next month I look for answers everywhere. I finally ventured to town. People seem friendly, but I still kept my distance. Someone had to know something. It was interesting that they had shops set up there. It made me wonder why they would have a shop, if all's they had to do was just ask for things. I would not be there long, so did not pay to ask about it. I always kept my contact to them minimum. It looked more like a trading system they had. To me they were just faces, no need getting to know them. I would be gone soon.

I learned that some have been here for thousands of years. I was the first new person they seen in 20 years. There were more than 600 people who live here. During the years 109 people have either disappeared or passed away. One was the king's uncle. Many feel he found a way out, where others said he was dead. Some say he left before the curse took in effect, and some said he was still here but in hiding. I thought that was weird, why would anyone be in hiding.

Whenever I am walking around, I still feel like I am being watched. Whoever it is they must be bored; it is not like I am doing anything exciting. But whatever they can keep following me.

One night while I am sitting by the camp fire reading, I hear music and laughing. It sounds like it was coming from town. I remember Margo talking about the villagers' parties. I drove my truck closer and can see everyone outside dancing. I smile to myself. They all seem so happy. I am almost tempted to join them. But nope, I am not going to get close to them. I returned to my lonely camper that night and go to bed.

I am sitting on the rocks by the waterfall. How the fuck did I get up here. "Ah you made it." A lady says to me. I turn to see the little old lady from the campground. I stand

"Wait, did you bring me here to this world? Why."

She smiles and floats up to the top ridge. I climb to follow her. I get to the top. Holy fuck I am high up. I turn and see her standing there.

"You made it" she says then walks into a cave. I follow her, as soon as I walk through, I come up to what almost looks like Hawaii.

"This is the way out." She just smiles then I wake up.

"Holy fucking shit. Did she just show me the way out?" I look at the clock it is 6:00am. I crawl out of bed and throw my robe on. I walk outside, and look at the top of the ridge. Holy shit, it could be. Then another challenge comes to mind. Fuck that is really up there.

The sides gradually go up, but then it looks steep closer to the top. "I can do this" I say. I am scared of heights, that is why I did not even attempt to try to climb it yet.

"Book on climbing." I say then a book falls on the ground. I pick it up and get to reading.

Two days later I am standing on the bottom of the waterfall.

"Rope" I say and rope falls by my feet.

"Hooky things and break thing for climbing." Those fell by my feet. Yeah, I really do not know climbing terms.

"Harness" One drops in front of me. I walk back in my camper and grab my backpack. I grab paper and a pen. If I make it or die, I wanted Margo to know what happens to me. I write her a quick message. I look around. My truck and camper will have to stay. Sadness washes over me. I shake my head. I grab my money, and cards and shove them in my bag. Then I begin the climb.

The whole way up the mountain by the falls, I felt like I was being followed. But decided to not care. If I get out, maybe they can get out as well. After hiking and climbing most of the day I reach to where it gets steep. I look up. "Annie, what the fuck are you thinking." I think to myself. There is a tree half way up, where there is a slim edge. If I take the rope and tie the hooky thing to it. (Still had no idea what it was called.) I try to lasso the tree, which turned out I sucked at.

I sigh, ok one more try. I throw it up and it does not come back down. I pull and it seems tight. Holy fuck I did it. I did a quick touchdown dance. I put the harness back on than put the break on it and ran rope through. Hopefully I can figure this out, because yeah, I have no idea what I am doing.

After a few tries, I somehow figure it out. I make it to the first edge. I pull myself up and then collapse on the ground. I look above me; I am so close to the top. I can't stop now. I pull myself up. I look at the tree to grab my hook and rope. "What the fuck." Somehow it wrapped 2 times around the tree. The way it is wrapped it is almost like someone did it. I look around, "Hello". I say. NO one answers. Geez Annie, no one is going to be this high up.

Whatever, I look at the top. I see another tree, but it is pretty up there. Fuck. Well here goes nothing. I take the rope and swing it a few times then let it go. It sticks. OK, weird. I look down. If I fall now, I'm a goner. I close my eyes, then attach the harness and the break again and make my way up there. Somehow, I make it all the way up. I get to the top and remove the harness then look around. I see the rock I was sitting on in my dream, then I see the cave. I smile. I climb, then run to the cave. I get to the entrance then take a deep breath and step in.

I pass through a portal. It takes me to the jungle I saw in my dream. "I'm out I really am out." I say with a smile.

"Hi dear" The old lady says.

"Why" I say to her "Why did you trap me there."

"That is the question isn't it." She replies

"It does not matter. Have a good life." I say then start to walk off.

"Sorry dear" she says appearing right in front of me. "You still have work to do. You are the cure." I look at her confused. Then she pushes me. Suddenly I am in the cave again, however the push was so hard I went flying over the edge and hit my head on a rock on my way down.

Just fucking great, so this is how I die. I think as my world turns black, and I just let it take me.